Part 14

Three other hymns by him, which have not found their way into any hymn books, are printed in Putnam’s _Singers and Songs_.

H.W.F.

Wendte, Rev. Charles William, Boston, Massachusetts, June 11, 1844—September 9, 1911, San Francisco, California. He graduated from the Harvard Divinity School in 1869 and served Unitarian churches in Chicago, Illinois; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Newport, Rhode Island. From 1885 to 1900 he was engaged in denominational work on the Pacific Coast and thereafter was Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the American Unitarian Association, Boston, spending a part of each year in Europe. Long interested in Sunday Schools he published in 1886 _The Carol, for Sunday School and Home_; a book of songs for use by children and young people entitled _Jubilate Deo_ in 1900; and another in 1908 entitled _Heart and Voice, a Collection of Songs and Services for the Sunday-School and Home_. In 1907 he wrote a hymn on “The City of God” beginning,

_Not given to us from out the sky_,

which was included in _The New Hymn and Tune Book_, 1914, and in _Hymns of the Spirit_, 1937, (with a slight alteration by the author).

H.W.F.

Westwood, Rev. Horace, D.D., Wakefield, Yorkshire, England, August 17, 1884—December 24, 1956, Clearwater, Florida. Emigrating to the United States, he served in the Methodist ministry for several years, and after 1910 served as minister in Unitarian churches in Youngstown, Ohio; Winnipeg, Canada; Toledo, Ohio; and extensively as a mission preacher. His hymn in one stanza,

_Spirit of Truth, of Life, of Power_, (1922)

was included in _Hymns of the Spirit_, 1937, and he privately printed a small collection, _Some Hymns and Verses_, n.d., a few of which appeared in periodicals, but have not had wider use.

H.W.F.

Wile, Mrs. Frances Whitmarsh, Bristol Centre, New York, December 2, 1878—July 31, 1939, Rochester, New York. Married A. J. Wile in 1901. Her lovely hymn for use in winter, beginning,

_All beautiful the march of days_,

was written about 1907 while she was a parishioner of Rev. William C. Gannett, _q.v._, in Rochester, New York, in consultation with him, and was included in Gannett and Hosmer’s revised edition of _Unity Hymns and Chorals_, 1911, from which it passed into _The New Hymn and Tune Book_, 1914, and _Hymns of the Spirit_, 1937.

H.W.F.

Wiley, Hiram Ozias, Middlebury, Vermont, May 20, 1831—January 28, 1873, Peabody, [Danvers] Massachusetts. He was a Unitarian layman who practised law in Peabody from 1855 until his death, and was the author of occasional verse contributed to local newspapers. On May 17, 1865, the _South Danvers Wizard_ published his hymn beginning

_He leads us on by paths we did not know_,

and republished it on May 8, 1867, with a note reading “Some years ago we published the following poem, which was written for our columns by H. O. Wiley, Esq. Since then it has traversed the country in all directions, without any credit being given either to our paper or to the author. We reproduce it from a Western paper in order to correct several errors that have crept into it. Ed.” It is the only hymn included in the small volume of Wiley’s poems published as a memorial to him soon after his death. Its earliest appearance in a hymn book was in the 1873 Supp. to the Unitarian _Sunday School Hymn Book_, with the first line changed to

_God leads us on, etc._,

About the same time it reached England, where it passed into a number of collections without the name of the author. In Julian’s _Dictionary_, p. 1647, “J.M.” states that it appears as _Anon._ in _Our Home beyond the Tide_, Glasgow, 1878, and that in _Meth. Free. Ch. Hys._, 1889, it is attributed to “Count Zinzendorf, about 1750. Tr. H.L.L.” (Jane Borthwick) although that attribution is questioned because the hymn could not be found in any of Miss Borthwick’s translations. The mistaken attribution persisted, however, long enough to be included in the second edition of the _Pilgrim Hymnal_, in the first decade of this century. Since then the hymn has passed, in its original form and rightly attributed to Wiley, into various other collections, among them the _New Hymn and Tune Book_, 1914, and _Hymns of the Spirit_, 1937.

H.W.F.

Willard, Rev. Samuel, 1776-1859. He graduated from Harvard College in 1803, served the First Church (Unitarian) in Deerfield, Massachusetts 1807 to 1829, when he resigned on account of blindness. In 1823 he published a collection of 158 songs, composed by himself, and in 1830 a compilation entitled “_Sacred Music and Poetry Reconciled_,” a hymnbook containing 518 hymns by various authors, about 180 of them written by himself. This book was adopted for use in the Third Parish in Hingham, Massachusetts where Willard was then living, but had little circulation elsewhere, and none of his hymns came into general use.

H.W.F.

Williams, Velma Curtis (Wright), East Boston, Massachusetts, July 29, 1852—January 22, 1941, Boston, Massachusetts. Wife of Rev. Theodore C. Williams, _q.v._ Her _Hymnal: Amore Dei, compiled by Mrs. Theodore C. Williams_, was published in Boston in 1890, revised edition 1897. It was edited with the assistance of her husband, then minister of All Souls’ Church, New York, where it was used, and in many other churches as well. Mrs. Williams herself wrote no hymns.

J. 1604 H.W.F.

Williams, Rev. Theodore Chickering, Brookline, Massachusetts, July 2, 1855—May 6, 1915, Boston, Massachusetts. He graduated from Harvard College in 1876, and from the Harvard Divinity School in 1882. He was ordained minister of the Unitarian Church in Winchester, Massachusetts, in 1882, but became minister of All Souls’ Church, New York in 1883. He resigned in 1896, and spent two years in Europe. After his return he served as headmaster of Hackley School, Tarrytown, New York, 1899-1905. A classical scholar, and gifted as a poet, he published a fine metrical translation of Virgil’s _Aeneid_, wrote a number of hymns which are religious poetry of a high order, and assisted his wife, Velma C. Williams, _q.v._, in compiling her _Hymnal: Amore Dei_, 1890, revised edition 1897. A few of his hymns appeared in this book and, with others of later date, are included in _The New Hymn and Tune Book_, 1914, and _Hymns of the Spirit_, 1937, as follows:

1. _As the storm retreating_, (Peace after storm)

Dated 1888.

2. _By law from Sinai’s clouded steep_, (Sabbath rest)

3. _God be with thee! Gently o’er thee_ (Inward Peace)

Dated 1889.

4. _Hast thou heard it, O my brother?_ (The Challenge of Life)

Dated 1902.

5. _In the lonely midnight_ (Christmas)

6. _Lord, who dost the voices bless_

Written for the ordination of Rev. Benjamin R. Bulkeley at Concord, Massachusetts, 1882.

7. _My country, to thy shore_, (Hymn for the Nation)

Dated 1912.

8. _Thou rulest, Lord, the lights on high_ (Universal Praise)

Dated 1911.

9. _To hold thy glory, Lord of all_, (Dedication of a Church)

Dated 1911.

10. _When the world around us throws_, (Lent)

Dated 1899.

11. _When thy heart, with joy o’erflowing_ (Brotherhood)

Dated 1891.

Three other hymns by him, included in _Amore Dei_, have not come into general use, viz.:

12. _Glory be to God on high_, (Universal Worship)

Dated 1889.

13. _I long did roam afar from home_,

Dated 1889.

14. _My heart of dust was made_,

Of the above all from nos. 1 to 11 are included in the _New Hymn and Tune Book_, 1914, and, except no. 9, in _Hymns of the Spirit_, 1937, which also includes no. 12. Nos. 5, 11 and 12 are in the _Pilgrim Hymnal_, 1934.

J. 1728 H.W.F.

Willis, Love Maria (Whitcomb), Hancock, New Hampshire, June 9, 1824—November 26, 1908, Elmira, New York. She married Frederick L. E. Willis, M.D., of Boston, in 1858. She was for some years one of the editors of _The Banner of Light_, Boston, and of _Tiffany’s Monthly Magazine_, and was a frequent contributor to these and other periodicals. She wrote a number of hymns, one of which, beginning,

_Father, hear the Prayer I offer_ (Aspiration)

was published in _Tiffany’s Monthly_ in 1859. In Longfellow and Johnson’s _Hymns of the Spirit_, 1864, it was considerably rewritten, with the opening line changed to read,

_Father, hear the prayer we offer_,

and was cited as “Anon.” This 1864 text came into considerable use in various collections in England, and was included in _The English Hymnal_ as late as 1906. It has also had wide use in America and will be found in almost all Unitarian hymn books since 1864, most recently in the _New Hymn and Tune Book_, 1914, and in _Hymns of the Spirit_, 1937.

J. 1728 H.W.F.

Willis, Nathaniel Parker, Portland, Maine, January 20, 1807—January 29, 1867. He graduated from Yale College in 1826. A journalist and editor, he wrote for the _American Monthly_ and the _New York Mirror_. From 1831 to 1837 he was in Europe attached to the American Legation at the French Court. On his return he became, in 1839, one of the editors of _The Corsair_. His works are numerous and include _Sacred Poems_, 1843. His hymn

_The perfect world by Adam trod_,

was “Written to be sung at the Consecration of Hanover Street [Unitarian] Church, Boston,” in 1826. It was included in Hedge and Huntington’s _Hymns for the Church of Christ_, 1853, and in a good many other collections, although of no exceptional merit.

J. 1285 H.W.F.

Wilson, Rev. Edwin Henry, D.D. Chester Park, Long Island, New York, August 23, 1898—still living. He graduated from Boston University, 1922; from Meadville Theological School, 1926; and took the degree of M.A. at the University of Chicago, 1928. He has served as minister of Unitarian churches in Chicago, Illinois; Schenectady, New York; and Salt Lake City, Utah. Since 1949 he has been Director of the American Humanist Association. His hymn beginning,

_Where is our holy church?_

written in 1928, is included in _Hymns of the Spirit_, 1937.

H.W.F.

Wilson, Rev. Lewis Gilbert, Southboro, Massachusetts, February 19, 1858—April 24, 1928, Floral City, Florida. He studied at Dartmouth, Harvard and Meadville Theological School, and in 1883 was ordained minister of the Unitarian Church at Leicester, Massachusetts. Later he served the Unitarian church at Hopedale, Massachusetts, and from 1907-1915 was Secretary in the American Unitarian Association. While there he was a member of the committee which edited _The New Hymn and Tune Book_ published in 1914 by the Association. This book included three of his hymns, beginning

1. _O God, our dwelling place_,

2. _O troubled sea of Galilee_,

3. _The works, O Lord, our hands have wrought_,

all three of which were written in 1912. The first of these is also included in _Hymns of the Spirit_, 1937.

H.W.F.

Young, George H. (No information available)

A hymn of 4 stanzas, L.M., beginning,

_With heart’s glad song, dear Lord, we come_,

is attributed to him in the _Isles of Shoals Hymn Book_, 1908.

H.W.F.

FOOTNOTES

[1]Frederic M. Bird, an Episcopalian clergyman, then professor at Lehigh University, in his day the leading authority on American hymnody.

[2]Louis F. Benson, a Presbyterian clergyman, the successor of F. M. Bird as the foremost American hymnologist in the first third of this century.

[3]See accompanying Catalogue of American Unitarian Hymn Books.

[4]Julian’s _Dictionary_, p. 60, lists Huntington, with Eliza Scudder and Harriet Beecher Stowe, as Episcopalian. It is true that Huntington joined the Episcopal church in 1859, as did Miss Eliza Scudder in her old age, but all the hymns produced by either of them were written while they were still Unitarians in belief, and Harriet Beecher Stowe was a life long Congregationalist.

[5]A few graduates of Harvard College (or Divinity School), belonging to other denominations have also written hymns, the most notable being Samuel Francis Smith (1808-1895), the greatest hymn writer of the 19^th century in the Baptist denomination; Phillips Brooks (1835-1893) with his one famous Christmas hymn; and, in the present century, Rev. Walter Russell Bowie (1882-_1969_), but the total number of their hymns is a very small percentage of the number by Unitarian graduates at Harvard.

[6]The numbers in brackets refer to the books listed in this catalogue.

_Index of First Lines of American Unitarian Hymns_ which have been included in one or more published Hymn Books, with names of their authors, to facilitate reference to the preceding Biographical Sketches for further information. Verses by these authors printed elsewhere than in some Hymn Book are there noted, but have not been indexed.

A A holy air is breathing round— Livermore, A. A. A little kingdom I possess,— Alcott A mighty fortress is our God— Hedge A voice by Jordan’s shore— Longfellow, S. A wondrous star our pioneer— Weiss Abba, Father, hear— Anon. Abide not in the realm of dreams,— Burleigh Across a century’s border line— Hosmer Again as evening’s shadow falls— Longfellow, S. Alas! how poor and little worth— Anon. Alas! how swift— Adams, J. Q. All are architects of fate— Longfellow, H. W. All beautiful the march of days— Wile All before us is the way— Clapp, see also Emerson All hail, God’s angel, Truth— Newell All hail the pageant of the years— Holmes, J. H. All hidden lie the future ways— Hosmer All holy, ever living One— Hill All is of God: if he but wave his hand— Longfellow, H. W. All nature’s works His praise declare— Ware All praise to him of Nazareth— Bryant All that in this wide world— Bryant All things that are on earth— Bryant Almighty Builder, bless, we pray— Church Almighty! hear thy children raise— altered to Almighty, listen while we praise— Bryant America triumphant! Brave land of pioneers— Holmes, J. H. Amid the heaven of heavens— Bartrum And wherefore should I seek above— Scudder Angel of peace, thou hast tarried— Holmes, O. W. Another day its course hath run— Pierpont Another year of setting suns— Chadwick Around the throne of God, the host— Ware As darker, darker fall around— See: Longfellow, S. As once again we gather here— Greenwood As shadows cast by sun and cloud— Bryant As the storm retreating— Williams, T. C. As tranquil streams that meet— Ham At first I prayed for light— Cheney

B Be thou ready, fellow-mortal— Bartol Behold, the servant of the Lord— Anon. Behold the western evening light— Peabody, W. B. O. Beneath the shadow of the cross— Longfellow, S. Beneath thine hammer, Lord— Hedge Beneath thy trees we meet today— Weiss Benignant Saviour: ’twas not thine, altered to Most gracious Saviour: ’twas not thine— Bulfinch Blest is the hour when— Anon. Blest is the mortal— Adams, J. Q. Blind Bartimeus at the gate— Longfellow, H. W. Bondage and death the cup contains— Sargent Break the bread and pour the wine— Pierpont Bring, O morn, thy music— Gannett Brother, hast thou wandered far— Clarke Burden of shame and woe— Bulfinch By law from Sinai’s clouded steep— Williams, T. C.

C Calm on the listening ear of night— Sears Christ hath arisen— Hedge Christ to the young man said— Longfellow, H. W. City of God, how broad, how far— Johnson Clear in memory’s silent reaches— Gannett Close softly, fondly, while ye weep— Bryant Come, Holy Spirit, hush my heart— Anon. Come, let us sing— Adams, J. Q. Come, let us who in Christ— Anon. Come, O thou universal good— Anon. Come, Thou Almighty King— Anon. Come, Thou Almighty Will— See: Longfellow, S. Come to the morning prayer— Anon.

D Day unto day uttereth speech— Burleigh Dear ties of mutual succor— Bryant Deem not that they are blest alone— Bryant Deus omnium creator— Greenough Down the dark future thro long generations— Longfellow, H. W. Down toward the twilight drifting— Robbins, S. D.

E Enkindling Love, eternal Flame— Barrows Eternal One, Thou living God— Longfellow, S. Eternal Ruler of the ceaseless round— Chadwick Every bird that upward springs— Neale, but see Longfellow, S.

F Faint not, poor traveller, though— Norton Far off, O God, and yet most near— Barber Father, beneath thy sheltering wing— Burleigh Father divine! This deadening power control— Tuckerman Father, give thy benediction— Longfellow, S. Father, hear the prayer we offer— Willis, L. M. Father! I wait Thy word— Very, J. Father in heaven, hear us— Ames Father in heaven, to Thee my heart— altered to Father in heaven, to whom our hearts— Furness Father, in thy mysterious presence kneeling— Johnson Father, there is no change to live with Thee— Very, J. Father, Thou art calling— Blake Father, thy servant waits— Burleigh Father! Thy wonders do not singly stand— Very, J. Father, to thee we look— Hosmer Father, to thy kind love— Bryant Father, to us thy children— Clarke Father, we would not dare— Savage Father, whose heavenly kingdom lies— Huntington Feeble, helpless, how shall I— Furness For all thy gifts we bless Thee, Lord— Clarke For mercies past we praise thee— Anon. For summer’s bloom, and autumn’s— Holland For the dear love that kept us— Burleigh For Thee in Zion— Adams, J. Q. Forward through the ages— Hosmer Freedom, thy holy light— Ham From age to age how grandly rise— Hosmer From age to age they gather, all the— Hosmer From Bethany the Master— Ham From heart to heart, from creed— Gannett From lips divine the healing balm— Burleigh From many ways and wide apart— Hosmer From past regret and present faithlessness— altered to From past regret and present feebleness— Scudder From street and square, from hill— Higginson From the profoundest depths— Burleigh

G Gently, Lord, O gently lead— Anon. Give forth thine earnest cry— Longfellow, S. Glory be to God on high— Williams, T. C. Glory to God, and peace on earth— Livermore, S. W. Go forth to life, O child of earth— Longfellow, S. Go not, my soul, in search of Him— Hosmer Go, preach the gospel in my name— Johnson Go to thy rest, fair child— Anon. God almighty and All-seeing— Pierpont God be with thee! Gently o’er thee— Williams, T. C. God bless our native land— Brooks and Dwight God is good: each perfumed flower— Follen God is in his holy temple— Longfellow, S. God laid his rocks in courses— Gannett God leads us on by paths— Wiley God of mercy, do Thou never— Pierpont God of our fathers, in Whose sight— Pierpont God of our fathers, who hast— Briggs, L. R. God of the earnest heart— Johnson God of the earth, the sea, the sky— Longfellow, S. God of the glorious summer hours— Savage God of the mountain— Anon. God of the nations, near and far— Holmes, J. H. God of the rolling orbs above— Peabody, O. W. B. God of the rolling year— Anon. God of the soul— Waterston God of the vastness— Badger God of Truth! Thy sons should be— Longfellow, S. God’s law demands one living faith— Briggs, C. A. God’s trumpet wakes the slumbering world— Longfellow, S. Gone are those great and good— Pierpont Grateful for another day— Marean Great God, in heaven above— Waterston Great God, the followers of thy Son— Ware Great Source of Good, our God— Waterston